II Samuel 24: 24
But King David replied to Araunah,"No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
The Lord had spoken to David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (v. 18). This is the same piece of property where the Temple of Solomon was built, the Temple Mount. This is significant.
What I noticed here, though, is that David would not sacrifice to the Lord what had not cost him anything. Is it really a sacrifice if I'm not giving up something that has worth to me? Is God worth my very best? What has cost me much?
In my selfishness I tend to want to keep what I have for myself. But if I grasp ahold of my life, it will squeeze through my fingers and I will lose it. But if I hold the things of my life with an open hand, even if it should fly away, then my hand will be ready to receive even more than what I had before. Do I trust God that much? Do I really believe that He loves me that much?
O my Father, help me to learn the lessons of this "school" of life You have given me on this Earth, in this World. Show me what You are doing for me and to me so that I will respond in deeper faith and greater trust in You. Even when things are not going as I wanted them to go, I know that You are sovereign, and are working in the hearts and wills of all who are here and interacting with one another, to further Your Plan, in Your way, in Your time.
Continue to mold me and make me into the very image of Your dear Son, my Lord Jesus. Let me feel Your Presence with me, and enjoy the intimacy with which You deal with me so gently. May Your joy be my strength through trials, and keep me firmly in Your hand.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
